Why ADHD Symptoms in Women Often Go Unnoticed

Most people believe that ADHD is common among little boys. That’s true to an extent, seeing how most ADHD cases involve male kids. Males are three times more likely to get an ADHD diagnosis during their lifetimes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Those statistics, though, are one of the reasons people don’t often associate women with ADHD. Many fail to recognize the signs in girls, whereas male kids as young as seven may already be diagnosed properly. Here’s why the signs often go unnoticed when they occur in females.

Less Noticeable

A person with ADHD often has a hard time listening when someone talks to them. They also struggle with complex tasks or activities that require multiple steps. They may exhibit behaviors like irritability or aggressiveness, fidgeting, and a tendency to talk excessively. These are signs of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive characteristics. However, males demonstrate more pronounced symptoms. That’s why females with ADHD aren’t usually diagnosed. While they might exhibit inattentive characteristics, they aren’t hyperactive. That’s one of the main reasons ADHD cases in women are often overlooked.

Concealed Symptoms

Women are also better at concealing their ADHD symptoms much more than their male counterparts. They are able to internalize and mask the symptoms with greater ease. Estrogen is thought to mediate the symptoms. Cultural pressures, too, work in the sense that females are raised to be polite. Social expectations keep females in line. Those who fail to live up to cultural expectations often find ways to conceal their behavior or struggles. For instance, they live alone or don’t invite anyone over. If you think you or a person you know have these tendencies, talk to an ADHD doctor online. Get a diagnosis so you can start receiving proper treatment.

Dismissed Symptoms

Many authority figures dismiss symptoms from females. When girls forget or zone out during conversations, some just dismiss those instances, thinking the girls as ditzy or airheads. They fail to recognize the symptoms. They won’t even entertain the thought that the symptoms point to ADHD. Hyperactivity in females is also dismissed with labels, as the girls are just called bubbly or social. That’s one of the reasons why ADHD cases in females are overlooked.

Co-Occurring Disorders

Some females who already struggle with substance addiction may also suffer from a mental health disorder like ADHD. These cases require a dual diagnosis treatment. If the patient only seeks addiction recovery assistance, that leaves the ADHD untreated. In these instances, the recovery usually fails. That's because, in the absence of a dual diagnosis treatment, the ADHD will only worsen to the point that it cripples whatever progress the patient makes relating to their substance addiction recovery. That’s why the right treatment is necessary.

Specialized Support

Whether you have ADHD or co-occurring disorders, get help. Recognize the symptoms and seek out professional recovery assistance. Start by making a call. Plenty of treatment centers now offer online options, so that’s an option you’ll want to consider. The sooner you take that step, the sooner you can get your life back.